Congratulations! You're actually one of the very few people on here that actually underestimates his NTRP.

You have nice old school strokes. I don't wanna place a number on it, but I like your slice and your backhands in general a lot. Good stuff and don't be so hard on yourself. If only other people on here were as modest as you.

Congratulations! You're actually one of the very few people on here that actually underestimates his NTRP.

You have nice old school strokes. I don't wanna place a number on it, but I like your slice and your backhands in general a lot. Good stuff and don't be so hard on yourself. If only other people on here were as modest as you.

Thanks for the input and encouraging comments. But I think you might agree that in order to compete at higher levels then I'm going to have to learn to hit solidly with topspin off both sides, because that's what's enabled and required by the modern racquet and string technology.

I'm pretty sure that the 4.0s I play against are sort of taking it easy on me. But, that said, I don't think that their best efforts are so far removed from mine that I might not some day, given enough practice, be competitive with them. The goal right now is just to become a solid 3.5. If I ever achieve that, then I'll raise the bar.

There is NO chance, realistic or dreaming, of TomT becoming a middling 4.5 player in singles. Heck, I move twice as fast, hit three times harder, and there is very little chance.
Consider. We are over 63 years old. We have no legs. That alone precludes any chance of 4.5.
A very good 67 year old, one who plays the NationalChamp65 twice a year almost even, says that there is no chance a guy his age can ever compete in 4.5, just because his endurance after a set and a half is not there.
You will cite plenty of marathone runners aged over 60. They run slow, too slow to play tennis. A tennis ball waits for no man, regardless of age or repute.

I agree with this. I am a month shy of 56 had knee surgery 4 months ago and a chronically inflamed left ankle, I can no longer compete with guys 25 years younger at 4.5 singles. I might could if I had a huge serve but my style is to do everything moderately well and not have a weakness. I do attack the net a fair bit and I can hit aggressively off the ground but the point is I don't have a shot to blow people off the court. Without a big weapon, it is very difficult to make up for a lack of movement in singles.

But, in a 55 and over 4.5 tourney; I could be competitive in singles and doubles.

I agree with this. I am a month shy of 56 had knee surgery 4 months ago and a chronically inflamed left ankle, I can no longer compete with guys 25 years younger at 4.5 singles. I might could if I had a huge serve but my style is to do everything moderately well and not have a weakness. I do attack the net a fair bit and I can hit aggressively off the ground but the point is I don't have a shot to blow people off the court. Without a big weapon, it is very difficult to make up for a lack of movement in singles.

But, in a 55 and over 4.5 tourney; I could be competitive in singles and doubles.

Then I'd like to see some videos of you playing, or at least practice hitting. I think I might learn something, and anyway, as you can probably tell from this thread, I love tennis videos.

For your amusement and criticism, some points from a recent 3.0 match.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGWV...s&feature=plcp
I was playing at about half speed. My opponent is a great guy and family man. This is one of the main reasons I like tennis. Because I meet lots of good people.

Tom,

I've been lurking on the forums for the last three months... but I finally had to register and thank you for posting your videos.

If you lived closer, I think we'd enjoy hitting together.
Especially with your attitude on the courts (and on the forums).

I would definitely focus on getting the proper form down first before using a wall. The ball comes back at you really fast so you really do not have any time to think about the proper form. Form is everything.

__________________
http://tinyurl.com/bcxghhk Get Free Tennis Lesson To Take Your Game To Next Level By Clicking On Link!

This guy looks to me like a very accomplished player. I won't guess what level, but his strokes look very solid to me. I think he's using the wall very constructively. Good practice. As you say, rten885, proper form is the key.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNiXrgAtjxc

Here's a (possibly controversial) question. Considering the last two vids, what kind of a match would it be between vil (the guy in the second to the last vid) and the guy in the last vid? It's pure speculation of course, but I'm just curious what some of the more knowledgeable TT posters would say.

This guy looks to me like a very accomplished player. I won't guess what level, but his strokes look very solid to me. I think he's using the wall very constructively. Good practice. As you say, rten885, proper form is the key.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNiXrgAtjxc

Here's a (possibly controversial) question. Considering the last two vids, what kind of a match would it be between vil (the guy in the second to the last vid) and the guy in the last vid? It's pure speculation of course, but I'm just curious what some of the more knowledgeable TT posters would say.

My money would have to be on the last guy (Simon Konov). I like his control and his movement more than the second last guy who seems to be just hitting really hard onto the wall ... albeit with some fair accuracy.

That could be just because I know Simon is playing futures though and I know nothing about the other guy.

I doubt it would be a close match. Simon is younger, quicker, has great footwork, and has very nice strokes. His game has probably been groomed by years of instruction and coaching. The guy in the previous video looks to be a capable player, but his wall work isn't anything out of the ordinary.

I doubt it would be a close match. Simon is younger, quicker, has great footwork, and has very nice strokes. His game has probably been groomed by years of instruction and coaching. The guy in the previous video looks to be a capable player, but his wall work isn't anything out of the ordinary.

I have to agree with you and gmatheis. vil's strokes are much better than mine, and it looks to me like Simon's are better than vil's. Anyway, I think that both vil and Simon have demonstrated that wall practice can be beneficial in that it's possible to practice good habits, and therefore improve your game, on the wall.

Thanks but not being nice. It's actually the truth (about that guy), as far as I know, and it's also what I consider to be most rewarding about playing competitive tennis. By the way, that guy and I have a great head to head rivalry. He's won about 6 or 7 matches, and I've only won 3, the last one being the playoff match in the vid. Our matches are so close because we make soooo many unforced errors.